Yuri's Night: Americans Honor A Russian Who Beat Them Into Space

Everyone Needs Space: Yuri's NightShareThis | PrintPost This | Like (3) | Comments (1)
SATURDAY: The exploration of space is one of the few things we can all be proud of, collectively, as the human race. Sure, we can argue about whether it's worth spending billions of dollars that could go to saving people right here on this planet, and we can bicker about the Cold War motivations for the space race, or we can just shut up and say that no matter what happens in the future, we sent people to the moon and brought them safely back. This, my friend, is the miracle of science. Well, one of them.

Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human being to orbit the Earth — and hey, also the first in outer space. And since that is a huge and important accomplishment — and because Gagarin never tarnished his image by appearing on "Dancing with the Stars," BUZZ ALDRIN — we celebrate Yuri's Night. There will be dancing (to live music and DJs), an intergalactic fashion show and John Glenn knows what else. Sci-fi attire is encouraged, so dig the Trek uniform out of your closet.

» NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Visitor Center, Icesat Road, Greenbelt; Sat., April 10, 8 p.m.-1 a.m., $10-$20; Dc.yurisnight.net. (Greenbelt)

Photo courtesy UPI